altitude sickness (redirected from Acute mountain sickness)

altitude sickness: see decompression sickness.

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altitude sickness

 or mountain sickness

Acute reaction to a change from low altitudes to altitudes above 8,000 ft (2,400 m). Most people gradually adapt, but some have a severe reaction that can be fatal unless they return to low altitude. Normal adaptations to the reduced oxygen at high altitude (e.g., breathlessness, racing heartbeat) are exaggerated; other manifestations include headache, gastrointestinal upsets, and weakness. Pulmonary edema is quickly reversed with oxygen and evacuation to a lower area.

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altitude sickness [′al·tə‚tüd ‚sik·nəs]

(medicine)

In general, any sickness brought on by exposure to reduced oxygen tension and barometric pressure.